# 2
Zuo Nian was an abandoned child.
As a small child, he was left at the entrance of a welfare home, nearly freezing to death.
When the kind-hearted director found him, the little one’s face had turned purple from the cold, and his body was burning hot like fire.
It was that fever that left him with chronic health issues.
Zuo Nian’s reactions were much slower than normal people’s. He occasionally stammered when speaking and had a somewhat blank, dazed appearance, which caused others to refer to him as “the little fool.”
The little fool already had a slow mind, and during his medical examination, he was also diagnosed with congenital glandular deformity. Therefore, even though he was as beautiful as a doll, no one was willing to adopt him.
It wasn’t until Zuo Jun and Ason appeared that the little fool finally had a home.
At the welfare home, the little fool was called “Little Seven,” which had no special meaning; it was just a name given in order of arrival.
But most people simply called him “fool.”
The little fool didn’t get upset about this; he would just laugh with a “hehe.”
After being adopted, Zuo Jun and Ason gave him a proper name and designated the day he was found as his birthday.
It was Christmas Day.
And today was the first birthday Zuo Nian had celebrated since their marriage.
He should have been with him.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been too busy lately and forgot today was your birthday. I didn’t prepare a gift for you,” Duan Baisui said, honest to the point of cruelty.
Zuo Nian wasn’t angry. He smiled sweetly and said, “Nian Nian doesn’t want gifts. I’m already very happy that brother came home to eat cake with me.”
Duan Baisui felt a bit uncomfortable inside.
He felt that he wasn’t a qualified husband.
Zuo Nian hung up his coat and tie properly and said, “It’s not midnight yet. Nian Nian can still make a wish.”
Duan Baisui sat with him by the coffee table, helped him put candles on the cake and light them, saying, “Mm.”
Zuo Nian turned off several of the main lights in the living room, leaving only the dim wall lamps.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, the flickering candlelight reflecting on his face, making him appear even more gentle and beautiful.
He clasped his hands together and placed them under his chin, saying, “I hope…”
“Brother is happy every day, stays healthy, and also… marks Nian Nian soon.”
All three wishes were secretly said in his heart; he didn’t let the person beside him hear.
After blowing out the candles, Duan Baisui asked, “What did you wish for?”
Zuo Nian looked up at him, his eyes gently curving: “Dad says wishes can’t be told, or they won’t come true. Nian Nian can’t tell you.”
Duan Baisui raised an eyebrow. Perhaps infected by Zuo Nian’s emotions, the fatigue and anger from the day gradually dissipated, leaving only infinite relaxation and tenderness: “Fine, it’s your birthday today, so we’ll do as you say.”
Zuo Nian wrinkled his nose, making a playful expression.
If any other man acted so coquettishly toward Duan Baisui, he would find it repulsive. After all, for a twenty-five-year-old man, it would seem somewhat affected and slimy.
But with Zuo Nian, it was just cute.
He had many expressions and small movements, but they weren’t deliberate; they only made people want to see more of him.
The two of them shared some cake, and by then it was already late.
After showering, Duan Baisui lifted the blanket and got into bed.
Zuo Nian was lying on his left side, already asleep.
After their marriage, they hadn’t separated rooms, but they hadn’t done anything more intimate either.
One bed, two blankets, each sleeping on their own side.
In Zuo Nian’s blanket was an ugly doll that he would hug every night when sleeping. It was his “Abebe,” very important to him.
Duan Baisui looked at Zuo Nian for a long time before reaching out to turn off the light.
The room fell into darkness, and Duan Baisui thought that tomorrow he must remember to get Zuo Nian a gift.
_
The next day, after finishing the morning meeting, an assistant came to tell Duan Baisui that public opinion online had suddenly shifted completely, saying that Ju Xiao had staged everything himself. He hadn’t been bullied but had attempted suicide because his love had been rejected, trying to frame his teammates.
Some extreme netizens had even dug up information about Ju Xiao’s little niece, saying they would confront the girl at school.
The little niece and Ju Xiao depended on each other for survival; she was Ju Xiao’s entire hope. Hitting where it hurt most was a way to force Ju Xiao to yield and not pursue the matter further.
Duan Baisui certainly knew whose handiwork this was.
That Rong Jin was the young master of Rong Chuang.
The outside world might not know, but how could he not?
Rong Chuang was trying to dump the blame on Ju Xiao. They clearly knew he was a person suffering from depression, yet they operated this way, truly leaving Ju Xiao no way out.
“First, carry out emergency public relations and suppress the trending topics. Doxxing is illegal, especially when targeting a minor. Issue a lawyer’s letter in Ju Xiao’s name,” Duan Baisui ordered coldly.
As they were speaking, Duan Baisui’s phone rang.
It was Qin Li calling.
Duan Baisui had a bad feeling.
“Hello.”
As soon as he answered, Qin Li’s anxious voice came through: “Alex, Ju Xiao is missing.”
According to Qin Li, two persistent fans had disguised themselves as patients and snuck in that morning, making a commotion outside the hospital room. The bodyguards stationed at the door had tried to escort them out.
Unexpectedly, a conflict arose, and one of the fans suddenly collapsed, claiming the bodyguard had hit them.
After the police were called, both the fans and the bodyguard were taken away.
Then Ju Xiao told Xiao Yuan he wanted to eat steamed buns. When Xiao Yuan returned with them, the hospital room was empty.
After hanging up the phone, Duan Baisui told Luo Yin: “Send someone to check Ju Ying’s school. Ju Xiao might go to find her. Also, tell Hu Chun to come see me immediately.”
“Yes, Young Master Duan.”
Whether out of conscience or concern for the company’s reputation, this incident needed to be handled fairly.
Hu Chun arrived quickly.
He stuck to the same story: he didn’t know anything, only that Rong Jin had mentioned Ju Xiao liked him and Rong Jin found it troublesome.
Duan Baisui looked at him coldly, throwing a document in front of him, saying, “I heard that Manager Hu suddenly cleared a large debt. Do you think I could trace the source of this money?”
Hu Chun smiled: “Young Master Duan, the money was indeed given to me by President Rong, but it was just to thank me for taking care of Rong Jin. As you know, Rong Jin’s personality often causes trouble, and I’m always following behind him cleaning up his messes, so President Rong giving me some money isn’t surprising.”
Duan Baisui nodded: “That’s natural, after all, President Rong is a ‘caring father.'”
“But what’s strange is that yesterday doctors examined Ju Xiao and found no external injuries. With President Rong’s methods, it would be easy to exonerate Rong Jin. So what secret is worth him giving you six million as… ‘compensation for your hard work’?”
Hu Chun maintained his smile: “Young Master Duan, you’re overthinking it. There really isn’t any secret.”
Duan Baisui stared at him intently, suddenly smiling: “You say Ju Xiao likes Rong Jin, and Rong Jin finds it troublesome. But in a recent variety show, didn’t I feel that Rong Jin was particularly dependent on Ju Xiao?”
Saying this, Duan Baisui stopped and carefully observed Hu Chun’s expression.
The man’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he said, “As you know, it’s all scripted.”
“Then his acting skills have really improved a lot,” said Duan Baisui.
“He has been taking acting classes seriously…”
“Hu Chun, you’ve been with them for so long, you should know them well,” Duan Baisui’s voice was calm as still water. “Someone like Rong Jin, he couldn’t accept falling in love with a Beta, could he?”
Hu Chun’s smile completely froze on his face.
Shortly after Hu Chun left, Duan Baisui received a call from Assistant Luo.
He said they had found Ju Xiao; he had indeed gone to the school to find his little niece.
He had been surrounded and attacked by fans of the other three members, but fortunately, they had arrived in time.
Now Ju Xiao had only suffered minor injuries and had been taken back to the hospital, and the troublemakers had been taken away by the police.
Duan Baisui looked at the data about the Rong Chuang Group on his computer and said, “Have Qin Li do a blood test for Ju Xiao.”
“Yes.”
“Get a psychologist there as soon as possible.”
“Understood.”
_
When he left work that evening, Duan Baisui didn’t have his driver take him.
He drove to New Era Plaza.
Zuo Nian’s shop was located there.
Before they were married, Zuo Jun and Ason had bought Zuo Nian a store and let him open a handicraft shop.
Zuo Nian was very skillful with his hands and made exquisite items.
His family didn’t need him to earn money; they just wanted him to be happy.
Compared to the surrounding large storefronts that started at eighty or ninety square meters, Zuo Nian’s shop was much smaller.
That was his own choice, in an inner alley on the first floor, only about thirty square meters, quite suitable for a handicraft shop.
Duan Baisui was busy with work and rarely came here.
He followed his memory to find it.
Zuo Nian’s shop was easy to recognize.
Among the stores with their uniformly simple and high-end decorations, his shop was decorated like a small cottage from a fairy tale.
A pink wooden single door topped with a light yellow French semicircular awning. The shop window wasn’t a full-length display; just a square opening in the wall, with small LED strips inside.
On the display stand was a crystal ball music box. Inside the transparent sphere was a pink and white castle, with fine snowflakes floating up and down as the colored lights changed.
Next to the music box was a pair of teddy bears, one wearing a suit and the other a wedding dress.
Above the window hung rainbows and clouds made of yarn by the shop owner.
On this cold winter day, this little shop became the warmest and most eye-catching presence on the street.
Duan Baisui walked to the door in a few steps. Just as his hand touched the doorknob, he heard laughter coming from inside.
“What did you say? You’re married? You’re not fooling us, are you?” a male voice said mockingly.
“The last time I saw him, he said the same thing. Guess who he said his husband is?” another male voice continued.
“Who?”
“You know Xing Entertainment, right?” the man said. “He says his husband is that crown prince. The one who’s in magazines every other day.”
“Damn, Flower, are you okay? Are even people with mental issues this vain?” the man’s voice was full of ridicule. “No wonder you rejected my pursuit in school. You were dreaming of marrying into wealth.”
“If you’re not buying anything, please leave. I’m about to close. My husband is coming home for dinner, and I need to go home to cook…” Zuo Nian’s voice was only slightly raised, but his soft tone wouldn’t make anyone think he was angry.
“What? The crown prince’s family can’t even afford to hire a housekeeper? Hahaha…” the sarcastic comments continued.
“The housekeeper is on leave,” Zuo Nian continued to explain seriously.
But all he got in return was louder laughter.
“Click.”
As warm light spilled out, a pink rabbit sensor hanging on the wall cheerfully announced: “Welcome!”
Everyone inside looked toward the sound.
Duan Baisui’s tall figure brought in the intense cold from outside. The snow on his coat had already melted, surrounding him with a mist of water vapor.
“Brother!”
Zuo Nian, who had been frowning just now, immediately broke into a smile, his eyes curving like crescent moons, shining brightly in the light.
The people who had been laughing loudly just now seemed to be frozen in place, their exaggerated expressions fixed, looking somewhat ridiculous.
Duan Baisui looked down at them and asked, “Your friends?”
Zuo Nian: “High school classmates…”
Duan Baisui nodded slightly, raising his chin with a rather arrogant expression.
“Don’t associate with just anyone.”
